Westminster College Flight Team Soars to Nationals

Feb. 19, 2014
Flight team places third overall in regional competitionSALT LAKE CITY - Westminster College's Flight Team recently placed third in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region I Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) competition. As a result, the team qualifies to compete in the National SAFECON competition in Columbus, Ohio in May 2014.
The Region 1 SAFECON includes schools from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The competition was held February 4 - 8 in Prescott, Ariz., and teams competed in a variety of flying and ground events such as short-field approach and landings, flight planning, computer accuracy, navigation, safety and aircraft recognition, and other several other events.
Westminster College placed second in the ground event category.
"The ground events consist of academic examinations that test the skills of the contestants preforming flight preparations," explained Bill Olgivie, Westminster flight team advisor. "Overall, our team performed exceptionally and should be proud that they are one of only three teams in the region to progress to the national competition."
The Westminster College Flight Team is made up of flight students and instructors who devote many of their Saturdays to practicing for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competitions. Participation in NIFA promotes professionalism, exacting standards and friendly competition among student pilots. It also provides scholarship opportunities and recognition for the top flight students.
This year's flight team includes: Paul Perthus, Connor Hennebry, Tristan Baldauf-Warren, Dmitry Osadchiy, Robert Lindgren, Sean Pursel, Zack McCoy, Payum Abtahi, Chris Tiller and Nicolle Huang.
For more information on Westminster's Aviation Program, visit: www.westminstercollege.edu/aviation. For a full list of the 2014 Region 1 SAFECON results, visit https://www.nifa.us/2013_REGION_1_RESULTS.htm.

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Westminster is a private, independent, and comprehensive college in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere dedicated to civic engagement. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just, and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a truly student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning, and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster’s urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains.